Survey shows Government suffocating business

National Party leader Bill English says the Government’s anti-business chickens are coming home to roost and there’s now black and white proof in the latest National Bank confidence survey.

“The Labour Government’s suffocating business with a raft of changes being rammed through in the lead up to Christmas.

Mr English is commenting on figures which show the level of confidence in December has slipped to its lowest point in 15 years.

“Given the current economic climate, this level of confidence should be of real concern.

“I blame Finance Minister Michael Cullen who continues to talk up the economic outlook, but business is beginning to see how Labour’s drip feeding its anti-business policies,” says Mr English.

“The National Party’s been warning of this slump in confidence, as controversial bills like Local Government, OSH, and four weeks minimum leave are forced upon us,” he says.

“Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol’s injected more uncertainty and just yesterday we learn ACC levies are going up again too.

“It should also be of major concern to the Government that the state of our airline industry’s been underlined as a contributing factor to the confidence slide,” Mr English says.

“And the mood’s not about to change according to the survey, which says retailers are now increasingly nervous about what’s in store for them.

“Small and medium sized businesses are now getting Labour’s message, loud and clear,” says Mr English.

© Scoop Media